On Tuesday night, Cam’ron and Huddy Combs (Andre Hudson) were at Perfections with DJ Camilo (who took this twitpic with his phone). Just a few hours later, Huddy was driving home, crossing the George Washington Bridge to New Jersey, when his car collided with a truck, killing him and injuring a female relative in the car (via Daily News, MTVNews, Associated Press).

All day I’ve had a heavy heart. It’s hard to quantify Huddy‘s contribution to the Harlem social scene, to the music game, and to the Diplomats team, but there’s no way to underestimate it either. He was the glue that held so much together.

I remember the days when Killa Cam first signed to Untertainment, Murda Mase was the future of Bad Boy, there was talk of a new Harlem renaissance, and Huddy was right in the middle of it. He was with Cam every day at the Hit Factory, he was on the road with Mase, he was even in Mase’s shortlived offshoot group Harlem World (with Loon, Meeno, Stace, and Suga J). There wasn’t enough Huddy to go around. Everyone that met him, loved him. He elevated the mood in every room, and was able to relate to anyone….

(read the rest after the jump) (Updated)

…The homie Nigel told me that back when Shyne used to come around to kick it with Mase, him and Huddy teased Shyne for dressing like a flashy drug dealer, i.e. Alpo, so they named him Shyne Po. Just Blaze recalled that Huddy played a part in creating his stagename too back when Just produced for Harlem World. And it was Huddy who was riding shotgun in the blue Lambo when Cam got shot in Washington D.C., and who helped him get to the hospital. Me, I’ll never forget how warm and protective he was to me from day I met him during the making of Confessions of Fire…he never changed over the years…we might bump into each other in a club, or on the street….Huddy always had a hug and a new hustle to share.

Today there were tons of condolences on twitter from Huddy’s friends and family…including Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Freeky Zekey,Juelz Santana, Duke Da God, all of Huddy’s music industry friends, and those in the nightclub scene, where Hud was a promoter. (The last time I spoke to him he told me he was opening his own club in Harlem, which seemed like the perfect fit for such a natural host.) But Cam’s silence speaks volumes about the pain that I’m sure he’s feeling right now. This is a year of renewal for Cam; the Dipset reunion, a new record deal, and new energy from Vado…all progress that Huddy was meant to be a part of. Not to mention, Huddy’s younger brother, Mikey Young 6, was part of the crew too and good friends with Vado and Jae Millz. So to lose him in a crash on the same bridge where Cam and Mase’s original Children of the Corn partner Bloodshed passed back in the 90’s….is just too cruel.

It’s a shame that we need days like this to appreciate the people we take for granted.
But the alternative is this: Sitting here, looking at old photos…and wishing that I had one more chance to reminisce with Huddy about that golden time of our lives and thank him for his friendship.

(thank you to Nigel/RealTalkNY for sending over this photo of Cam, Huddy, and me with my front. *sigh*)

On twitter I added Huddy 6, and he added me back. I messaged him to thank him and told him what a dipset fan I was. To my suprise…HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH “MZBRITTANYLUV” and my Cam’ron STANdom and antics on the internet. He said he was happy to meet me, joked a little about my fandom, but was very nice. He thanked me for supporting Dipset so much and showed me mad luv.

I can honestly say he was VERY FUNNY and friendly and it made me smile that he had actually seen me on my BS (probably on this site, DUKES site, or YouTube lol) and acknowledged me as a huge fan.

He was very nice and friendly. I can say that, and his messages made me feel good.

The amazing thing about it is…HE WAS SO HUMBLE! He always spoke about positivity and no beefing and was always upbeat and funny & just cool in Cam interviews. He was never involved in the messy stuff…Though im sure he could have been. Just good energy. For that alone I think he deserves respect.

When you’re a rap geek like I am and you become a fan of an artist, as I was Cam’Ron, you become kinda consumed with learning about said artist. Their influences, where they’re from, and their friends.

So when I bought Confessions of Fire way back when, I immediately had to figure out who all these people were.

I can definitely agree with $port. I have been a major Diplomats fan for the longest time and it was hard not to notice Huddy was a special presence within in the Diplomat camp. I send my condolences and prayers to his family and friends and may he R.I.P.

To Miss Info, I would like to say that you are the BEST in the game! You always publish the truth and nothing but the truth. I also appreciate how you consistently acknowledge the importance of the Diplomats within the hip hop game. Much respect!

Hi miss info,
Idk if you remember me or not but I’m the dude who won da tickets 4 the from you for that cam show in the highlime ballroom…I seen u that night wit every1 there but the only person out the whole entourage i exchanged words wit was huddy right after he finished helping miss Giles on stage…now idk if many ppl understand his participation in HARLEM as bringing da music 2 da forefront…he was there from da jump coc, Harlem world, diplomats, even a stint wit da untouchables n benzino…he pushed a lot off buttons 2 get Harlem in da position its in musically…as u kno miss info he wasn’t da best mc but he was da biggest staple Harlem had 2 offer…we will never 4get huddy combs..”.yo turn dat up huddy”

Very sad day for hip hop, I wasn’t too familiar with Huddy myself but seeing the responses he’s gotten and posts like this you can definitely see just how much he contributed especially behind the scenes. May he RIP.

Man that truly sucks to see that happen. I was hurt like he was my fam just from being a fan of Killa’s. I feel like Sport 100% cause just hearing him get shouted out made you wonder about him & because of him I actually listened to a song Benzino was on. Life is very short cause I swear death comes from left field. I know Killa is probably very hurt from losing another friend like that especially after just seeing him. Miss Info I’m sure his family enjoys the tribute you might as well have a dipset chain also.

Dammmm this is crazy I just seen Huddy like 2 months ago…. I work as a truck driver and as I was waiting at a red light on the upper west side that’s when I saw Huddy and Vado mingling outside of a club..man and as hip hop fan I immediately noticed them. This sucks cuz I know he was a stand up dude… I’m in shock cuz personally I didn’t know him but I just seen him smiling and chillin … R.I.P Huddy Combs

since 98 i always had that mase ad lib stuck in my head from horse n carriage “hu-ddy combs…..jim-my jones” i never knew who he was exactly til later on when harlem world dropped the movement, but i have been a supporter EVER since. yes harlem world has fans in the woods in northern ontario. may he rest in peace
my condolences to his friends and family

very sad day for harlem…..i remember me and my man big E breaking night in the double tree hotel gambling all night with huddy and the rest of the harlem world members……u was in a class by yourself and will be miss..r.i.p huddy 6

R.I.P HUDDY COMBS .ITS A BLESSING THAT HE.S BEING CELEBRATED THIS MUCH,SHOWS THAT HE WAS A STAND UP MAN AND RESPECTED ENTITY IN THE INDUSTRY. I.M SURE HE SMILING BECAUSE DEATH IS AN ILLUSION.THE SPIRIT LIVES ON.

Yo Info thats my word Huddy was a good dude. I met Huddy a while back when he came to Sydney Australia for the Murder Inc Tour. He came out with Benzino.I was the opening act and I was smoking backstage. Anyway this nigga musta smelled it because he came out of the dressing room and he just started choping it up. I told him that I was orginally from Harlem (143rd an Hamilton) and after that It was just me and that man chillen the whole tour! As a matter of fact he was the one that put me on to cranberry an vodka. After the tour wrapped up he gave me his math and told me to holla at him next time I was uptop!

I know people say this but I can actually say it an mean it. That man was a fuckin good dude!! Thats my good word! God Bless the dead!!

R.I.P. It’s good to see a good person being recognized @ celebrated. People, don’t take life for granted and tell the people you love that you love them, DAILY!! You never know what moment could be your last.

It’s crazy that so many people knew Huddy. I was speaking to my girl about my old party promotion days and mentioned Huddy and she was like “wait Huddy Combs?” and went on to share funny stories of him back in the days. The world is so small.

Much Respect to you Miss Info. like you told me on Tues night. Your “Dipset for life.”

As a teenager from the 90’s who grew up in LA but was very fond of the Bad Boy/Harlem World movement.

I remember back when I first heard Horse & Carriage with the Ma$es shout-out: “Huddy Coooombs”. I thought that was Ma$e’s nick-name for Puffy lol. Then years later I read Ma$es book only to find out Huddy is a real dude not named Puffy who was very instrumental in Ma$e’s early days as a successful rapper, and if i recall correctly it was he and Ma$e that flew to the ATL where Ma$e freestyled for Puff in Club 112 which led to his Bad Boy deal.

I’m from this part of town, Harlem…Want to send my prayers out to Huddy’s family. I never meet him but use to see him on the strip. Sad way to end a life…wishing those affected by this tragedy the best! especially Cam’ron & The Diplomats.

I always wondered who Huddy Combs was bc he was a name you heard in rap for years. I always assumed it was 1 of Puff’s million alias’s. When i read that you said that’s where Bloodshed died back in the day i got chills. That’s terrible.

Life is crazy.. Huddy was a real good dude… I mean he partied like there was no tomorrow he was in every club in the City.. from when the tunnel was open.. to exit to mar 2112 you name it.. Huddy was in.. He was dubbed as the Club King. I remember one time in the summer of 1999 a Well known rapper -not gonna say names- was a couple seconds from getting stuck up.. By some Bloods.. on a Nice summer day in Harlem.. and huddy prevented it from happening. this guy was a stand up G. Class act… and was very humble and well respected.. he lived breathed and was HARLEM!!!!! RIP HUDDY

R.I.P Huddy. I always seen him in the background, I even remember seeing him in a group for a hot second with Benzino or something lol. I can tell he was a real good dude and he made a big impact on a lot of peoples lives. I send my condolences to his family and everyone who knew him. Its been a tough year, I lost my best friend in the beginning of the year so I can identify with the pain. All you can do is remember the good times, and the lessons you learned from each other. Like someone said in the one R.I.P video for him on youtube, its not about how long you know someone, but the impact they leave on your life.

KNOWING HUDDY WAS LIKE KNOWING THERE WAS A PERSON OF PEACE ON EARTH. I MET HIM BACK IN 1998 WHEN MY FLIGHT ATTENDANT BASE HAD ME IN NEW YORK. I LIVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN MOVED TO ATLANTA THERE WASN’T A MONTH THAT WENT BY WITHOUT ME SPEAKING TO HIM. I SEEN EVERY SUMMER AND THIS ONE I MISSED. MY SOULMATE HE WAS….NO MORE KISSES TO CATCH… R.I.P. BOO

STAY IN PEACE ANDRE!!!!! @ Dee no disrespect but he was a married man from 1999 on so your comment about him being your soulmate is extremely disrpectful! U never know who is reading. Thanks Miss Info for acknowledging the UNDERGROUND MAYOR OF HARLEM!!!

There was nothing disrespectful to his wife with our friendship. I’m married as well. It’s unfair for you to try and dictate how he impacted another person’s life. He was my soulmate and he always had the words that I needed. No disrespect to his wife in anyway because he never ever disrespected her.
“Peace and blessing “

Now we take trips to casinos, to lovely homes
You check on Lotti’s mom, Minos, Huddy combs/ (Homes)
You trying to fake it with cardem, pardon
You gonna leave them naked like Tarzan -Camron take em to church rip huddy 6

Huddy was divorced from his wife. However a great family man who took care of his kids. Its better not to get very personally involved unless you know the facts. How do you know if this man wasn’t seriously involved with someone else. Rip Andre Hudson